In this article, we will delve into the fascinating world of Gostivar dialect, exploring its many aspects and facets. From its origin to its relevance today, Gostivar dialect has been the subject of interest and debate in numerous contexts and disciplines. Throughout these pages, we will examine its impact on society, its evolution over time and its importance in different areas. Without a doubt, Gostivar dialect has left an indelible mark on history and continues to be a source of study and reflection today.
Dialect of Macedonian
The Gostivar dialect (Macedonian: Гостиварски дијалект, Gostivarski dijalekt) or Upper Polog dialect (Macedonian: Горнополошки дијалект, Gornopološki dijalekt) is a member of the western and north western subgroup of the western group of dialects of Macedonian. The dialect is mainly spoken in the area around the city of Gostivar to the villages Brvenica and Bogovinje on north, Reka region on west, Poreče on east and Galičnik on south. The dialect is closely related with the neighbouring dialects, particularly with the Kičevo-Poreče dialect, Reka dialect and Galičnik dialect. Also in some extent, the dialect shares some similarities with the Tetovo dialect. The dialect is very well known for using masculine forms of direct and indirect objects, for male and female.
Phonological characteristics
replacement of the letters ќ and ѓ in verbal use with ч and џ, respectively: куќа (kukja) → куча (kucha); Ѓурѓа (Gjurgja) → Џурџа (Djurdja)
the older has been replaced with in most words: прах (prah) → прав (prav, "dust")
the consonant group цв- is substituted with цу-: цвет (cvet) → цут (cut, "flower")
absence of the intervocalic in the plural forms of monosyllabic nouns (e.g. лебо(в)и, дождо(в)и, etc.)
Morphological characteristics
use of masculine direct and indirect object for males and females: Дај му ја топкава на Тони/ Дај му ја топкава на Ивона (Daj mu ja topkava na Toni/ Daj mu ja topkava na Ivona) - Give this ball to Toni/ Ivona;
1 Also considered a dialect of Bulgarian. 2 Considered to be a part of the transitional Torlak dialect and as a subdialect of Bulgarian, Macedonian, and Serbo-Croatian.